In July 2021, Ms Petito set off on a road trip from her hometown in Long Island, New York, with Mr Laundrie. Mr Laundrie and Ms Petito got engaged in July 2020, according to their social media. The two high school sweethearts documented their nomadic “van life” through national parks in the American West on Instagram and YouTube.
The journey was originally intended to last four months, US media report, but Mr Laundrie returned home to Florida alone on 1 September. Ms Petito’s family reported her missing 10 days later.
It is still unclear what happened when Ms Petito, and later, Mr Laundrie, went missing, but some details have emerged from the weeks prior.
On 12 August, police in the southern Utah town of Moab were called to a possible domestic violence incident involving the couple. Bodycam footage showed Ms Petito crying and telling officers about her bad mental heath including mentioning her OCD. She also said the couple had been arguing more frequently about her obsessive over cleaning of the van. A police report of the incident said Mr Laundrie claimed Ms Petito hit him after an argument. The officers recommended they spend the night apart but did not file any charges. It is not yet known what happened next.
[footage from the bodycam]
On 19 August, a video was posted to a YouTube channel registered with Ms Petito’s email. The video showed the couple smiling, kissing and running on beaches. It has been viewed more than 3.2 million times. Regular social media updates from the couple on Instagram abruptly ended in late August.
Ms Petito video called her mother on 24 August to say she was leaving Utah and heading to the Teton mountain range in Wyoming, according to Rick Stafford, the Petito’s lawyer. Her mother, Nicole Schmidt, told CBS New York that she and Ms Petito would usually speak three times a week during the road trip.
On 25 August, Ms Petito posted for the last time on Instagram, with the caption “Happy Halloween”. Her photo gallery did not include any location information.
The last time Ms Petito’s family heard from her was a text message on 30 August that read: “No service in Yosemite”, a reference to the national park in California. Ms Schmidt has cast doubt over who sent this message. After a search that drew national public interest, officials discovered human remains believed to belong to Ms Petito in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park on 19 September.
A full forensic analysis is still required to confirm the body found in Wyoming belongs to Ms Petito. An autopsy scheduled for today will determine the cause of death. Investigators have yet to disclose how and where the body was found.
Mr Laundrie, currently the only person of interest in this case, also remains missing. Family reported his disappearance over the weekend, saying he had left for a hike on 14 September and never came back.
He did not share any information with police before he vanished.
It’s also worth noting that when Mr Laundrie returned to North Port without his fiancée, he did not contact her family or police. Mr Laundrie’s attorney Steve Bertolino has said the family “is remaining in the background at this juncture”.
On 20th September, the FBI searched the Laundrie residence for clues. Authorities had been looking for Mr Laundrie in a 24,000-acre nature preserve near North Port with police dogs and drones. On Monday, they called off the search.
Any more information on the case will be added when received.
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
The desperate dad of a Long Island woman who went missing during a cross-country trip with her boyfriend is begging the public to focus only on bringing her home — saying, “All of the crap afterward will sort itself out.” Gabby Petito, 22, was last known to be in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park in late August after heading out on a road trip a month earlier with her boyfriend, identified on…
Why would he come home without her and lawyer up right away??? SKETCHY
It’s not art but this is IMPORTANT.
I have a good amount of followers here. Have you been out in the national parks this summer? Have you seen these people anywhere?
Or can you just help and share this so that Gabby can be found?
Updates:
Brian Laundrie (bf) has been labeled as a person of interest.
Police in Utah have released body cam footage from a stop on Aug 12 showing Gabby and Brian being pulled over after reports of a domestic disturbance. Gabby is seen visibly upset but she told the cops she had been the aggressor in the altercation. Officers concluded the incident was a mental health crisis and had the couple separate for the night.
BRIAN IS NOW “MISSING”
Family, Lawyer, FBI have no idea where he has gone!!
I am heartbroken
Remains were found today that seem to be consistent with Gabby…
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
The desperate dad of a Long Island woman who went missing during a cross-country trip with her boyfriend is begging the public to focus only on bringing her home — saying, “All of the crap afterward will sort itself out.” Gabby Petito, 22, was last known to be in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park in late August after heading out on a road trip a month earlier with her boyfriend, identified on…
Why would he come home without her and lawyer up right away??? SKETCHY
It’s not art but this is IMPORTANT.
I have a good amount of followers here. Have you been out in the national parks this summer? Have you seen these people anywhere?
Or can you just help and share this so that Gabby can be found?
Updates:
Brian Laundrie (bf) has been labeled as a person of interest.
Police in Utah have released body cam footage from a stop on Aug 12 showing Gabby and Brian being pulled over after reports of a domestic disturbance. Gabby is seen visibly upset but she told the cops she had been the aggressor in the altercation. Officers concluded the incident was a mental health crisis and had the couple separate for the night.
BRIAN IS NOW “MISSING”
Family, Lawyer, FBI have no idea where he has gone!!
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
The desperate dad of a Long Island woman who went missing during a cross-country trip with her boyfriend is begging the public to focus only on bringing her home — saying, “All of the crap afterward will sort itself out.” Gabby Petito, 22, was last known to be in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park in late August after heading out on a road trip a month earlier with her boyfriend, identified on…
Why would he come home without her and lawyer up right away??? SKETCHY
It’s not art but this is IMPORTANT.
I have a good amount of followers here. Have you been out in the national parks this summer? Have you seen these people anywhere?
Or can you just help and share this so that Gabby can be found?
Updates:
Brian Laundrie (bf) has been labeled as a person of interest.
Police in Utah have released body cam footage from a stop on Aug 12 showing Gabby and Brian being pulled over after reports of a domestic disturbance. Gabby is seen visibly upset but she told the cops she had been the aggressor in the altercation. Officers concluded the incident was a mental health crisis and had the couple separate for the night.
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
The desperate dad of a Long Island woman who went missing during a cross-country trip with her boyfriend is begging the public to focus only on bringing her home — saying, “All of the crap afterward will sort itself out.” Gabby Petito, 22, was last known to be in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park in late August after heading out on a road trip a month earlier with her boyfriend, identified on…
Why would he come home without her and lawyer up right away??? SKETCHY
It’s not art but this is IMPORTANT.
I have a good amount of followers here. Have you been out in the national parks this summer? Have you seen these people anywhere?
Or can you just help and share this so that Gabby can be found?
Updates:
Brian Laundrie (bf) has been labeled as a person of interest.
Police in Utah have released body cam footage from a stop on Aug 12 showing Gabby and Brian being pulled over after reports of a domestic disturbance. Gabby is seen visibly upset but she told the cops she had been the aggressor in the altercation. Officers concluded the incident was a mental health crisis and had the couple separate for the night.
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
The desperate dad of a Long Island woman who went missing during a cross-country trip with her boyfriend is begging the public to focus only on bringing her home — saying, “All of the crap afterward will sort itself out.” Gabby Petito, 22, was last known to be in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park in late August after heading out on a road trip a month earlier with her boyfriend, identified on…
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
Long Island father begs for return of missing daughter
The desperate dad of a Long Island woman who went missing during a cross-country trip with her boyfriend is begging the public to focus only on bringing her home — saying, “All of the crap afterward will sort itself out.” Gabby Petito, 22, was last known to be in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park in late August after heading out on a road trip a month earlier with her boyfriend, identified on…
